By Jennie Guido

With Natchez’s Mardi Gras season in full swing, we see active Krewes all over town. Between the Call Out Ball and the parade preparations, there’s so much to do to get ready for Carnival season here in town. However, the Krewe I belong to, the Krewe of Bon Temps, not only plans a fun Mardi Gras, but also plans our annual fundraiser, the Bon Temps Classic.

In 2019, one of ours suffered the loss of her son, Charlie Guedon. As newly formed Krewe, we quickly knew that sharing Charlie’s spirit and memory would be something we had to do for our community.

As Krewe, we asked for donations from family and community members to raise funds for a memorial scholarship to be awarded in the spring of 2020 to a graduate of Adams County Christian School. This first year, we raised $9,752 and awarded a scholarship of $1,500. It was amazing the support we had for the scholarship and we quickly realized that our cause could grow so much over the years to come.

The Charlie Guedon Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a deserving graduate who displays both academic achievement and the joyous love of life and others that Charlie was so well known for. We have since opened the scholarship to the private school in the area and welcome submissions from seniors for us to review annually.

Last year, our Krewe organized for the first time our fundraiser, the Bon Temps Classic. Held at the Beau Pre Country Club, we hosted 36 teams for an afternoon of golf and some entertainment to follow in the clubhouse. We couldn’t believe the support we once again had from the community. Over 150 local businesses and individuals sponsored the tournament and donated their time and talents to help make it a resounding success.

In the end, we raised over $21,000 and awarded a senior from CASC and Cathedral High School $1,500 scholarships. We have also used funds raised to sponsor other benefits in the community and plan to include projects with Natchez and Vidalia Public Schools in future years.

This year’s tournament is scheduled for Saturday March 5, 2022 at the Beau Pre Country Club. While our 36 spots for teams filled up in the first week of planning, we are still selling sponsorships, chances to drop the ball and t-shirts. If you would like to contribute in any way, please feel free to contact me or any other Krewe of Bon Temps member.

We live in the most generous community on either side of the Mississippi and we can’t thank you enough for the support you always give!